Cultivator



i (No Model.) l l J.

GULTIVATOR. n Patented Jan. 24,. 188.8.

V,tical arm of the axle.

"UNITED STATES JAMES MAGPHAIL AND FRANKLIN M. NEEDHAM, OF ROOKFORD,ILLINOIS.

PATENT OFFICE. f

CU LTIVATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 376,747,7dated January24, 1888.

Application iiled January 19l 1887. Serial No. 2221,814. (No model.) l

.To illu/hom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JAMES MACPHAIL and FRANKLIN M. NEEDHAM, citizens ofthe United States,residing in the city of Rockford,

-in the county of Winnebago and State of Illicultivator.77 Its obj ectis 4to improve this class:

of farm implements; and it consists,mainly, of detail improvementsextending to. nearly all parts of themachine, all of which, inconnection with the drawings, willbe hereinafter more fully. described.

In the accompanyingdrawings, Figure l is a plan view of a portion of theaXle,'tongue, and a drag-bar wit-h shovels attached. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the parts shown in plan. Fig. 3 is also a side elevation ondotted line a on Fig. 1, in which the dotted line b represents the axialcenter ofthe drag-bar depressed below 'a right angle relatively with thever- Fig. i is a transverse vertical section of the axle on the verticalaxial center of the drag-bar on dotted. line c, Fig. 1. Fig.' 5 is avertical central section of the spindle on dotted line d on Fig. l. Fig.6 is a transverse vertical section on dotted line c, Fig. 1; Fig. '7 isa transverse vertical section on dotted line h., Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is anisometrical represent-ation of a portion of a shovel-standard and safetyattachment of the shovel-support, and Fig. 9 is a lengthwise centralsection of a portion of the shovel- `in opposite direction,may be anyofthe known varieties of such omitted parts as are capable of use inconnection with our improvements.V

In the figures the/axle is'of the usual crank or. arching form,consisting of a central horizontal portion, 1, like verticalportions l2de- "pending from the ends of the central horizontal 1 portion, andlikedraft-arms 3,0neon eachside, 1 I

extending from the lower end ot' the vertical portions laterallyoutward. YA'groove, 4, of'` i V form in section, is produced lengthwisein Y v 6o the outer endportion of the draft-arms of the axle. A tubularspindle, 5, to secure the carrying-wheels in theusual manner,is madewith g asleeve ,portion6, to receive the outer end portion of thedraft-arm of the axle, andits inner surface is made with a feather, 7,of `V form in section, to enter the groove formedin the outer endportion of the draft-arm. lA re,-

cess, 8, formed in the inner' face of the, sleeve,y

6, receives ascrewfnut, 9, anda screw-bolt,10,

in connection with the screw-nut, and the j groove-and-featherconnection of the parts serve to fix the spindle securely in place in aremovable manner.

The spindle is made with a sand-band, Il,

to overlap the inner end of the wheel-hub, and it is also provided withan ear,\12, projecting from its forward side, which is perforated toreceive a draft-link,13, and a brace, 14..k

sists of an arm, 16, toenter the perforation in the-ear, an arm, 17,bent to engage the rear under face of the ear, and a bent portion, 18,

to engagejts upper face forward portion.

The conformation of the parts employed in the connection of the bracewith the spindle are such as to permit the brace to be Yreadily putinplace, and as readily removed, and

when put in place and pressed -ffrom -its dotted-line position shown inFig. 2 to'its` solidline position, therein shown, to. con-A nect withthe tongue at its upper end formsa securecrampingself-lockingconnection;and, by reason of the feather-.connectionof the spindle with the axle, which resists the cramping rocj forceofthe brace, its connection with the spin` r dle is made more secure.

A draft-sleeve, 19, of proper dimensions, is placed on the draft-arm ofthe axle in a manner to permit of an oscillatory movement thereon.

The draft-sleeve is formed with a series of conic holes, 20, on itsupper and lower opposite sides, and these holes receive conic studpins21, formed on the forward end inner face ofjoint-plates 22. The rear endportions of the joint-plates are formed on their inner face to receivethe forward end of a tubular dragbar, 23, to which they are securelyfixed by means of a screw-bolt passed through the parts. Y

A screw bolt, `40, is passed through the joint-plates between thedraft-sleeve and the forward end of the drag-bar,and, in connection withthe screw-bolt passed through the joint-plates and drag-bar, serves toadjust the joint-plates to the draft-sleeve, and also to [ix the platesto the drag-bar. These several parts, consisting of the sleeve mountedon the draft-'arm of the axle and the draft-plates connecting thedrag-bar with the draft-sleeve, form a connectionoi thc drag-bar withthe axle to permit a free lateral and vertical movement of 'its rearfree end and prevent axial or rolling movement of the bar to maintainthe vertical position of the shovels fixed thereto in its lateralmovements, and the series of holes formed in the sleeve in connectionwith the stud-pins of the joint-plates furnish the means for the lateraladjustment of the drag-bars toward or from each other to cultivatecloser to or farther from the plants.

The draft-sleeve 19 is formed at its inner end with a short arm, 24:,and a longer arm, 25, projecting at a right angle to the sleeveinbell-crank form with the short arm extending forward of the axle.

Rods 26 and 27 are pivoted at their lower ends to the outer end of theirrespective arms of the draft sleeve, from which they rise through theirrespective guide-eyes in the twopart clips 28 and 29, clamped in placeon the vertical arm of the axle,on which they are capable of verticaladjustment.

A supporting-spring, 3l, and a counterbalance-spring, 30, are placed ontheir respective rod-supports 26 and 27 between their hinged connectionswith their respective arms of the draft-sleeve and their respectiveguide-eyes.

The supporting-spring 31 in its connections by means of the guide-eyesupport to its supporting-rod is made adjustable to support the drag-barand its attachments in an elevated position, as indicated by the dottedline m in Fig. 3, in which instance the movable parts will be in theirdottedline position, as therein shown. When the drag-bar is in itshorizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2, the supporting-spring 31 andthe arm 25 oi' the joint-sleeve will be in line, and the spring cannotexert any influence to either elevate or depress the rear end of thedrag-bar. With the drag bar in its horizontal position, as shown in Fig.2, the counterbalance-spring 30,

Ydotted line b in Fig. 3, in which instance the movable parts will be inthe position represented therein in solid lines.

From the foregoing it will be seen that it is within the capability ofthe springs 30 and 31 to vary the downward tendency of the rear end ofthe drag-bar to a greater or less extent,

and that throughout its range of movement downward from a horizontalposition its downward tendency shall be substantially uniform.

The shovel-standards 32 and 33 are made from channell H or I formedmetal bars, and the rear shovel-standard, 33, is bent edgewise of thebar in a vertical curve, as shown in Fig. 2, and laterally in thereverse curves or ogeecurved form shown in Fig. 1, to place its upperforward end in position to engage the rear end outside of the drag-bar,and its depending shovel-bearing end in proper position relatively withthe drag-bar.

A shovel-standard supporting-bracket, 34,0f the curved depending formshown is made to engage the inner face of the rear end of the drag-baropposite the forward end of the rear shovel-standard, 33, and ascrew-bolt passed transversely through the bracket drag-bar andshovel-standard serves to fix the several parts in place.

The depending arm 35 of the bracket-support to the shovel-standard isgrooved on its outer face to receive the shovel-standard 32, which isfixed in place therein by a suitable screw-bolt passed through theparts; and a series of holes or a slot, as indicated by dotted lines andsolid lines in Fig. 2, in either or both the parts, furnish the meansfor the vertical adjustment of the standard in its connection with thebracket.

A shovel-supporting sleeve, 36, made from bar material bent in loopform, with parallel arms to embrace the lower end portion of thestandard, is pivoted thereto at its lower end by means of a bolt orrivet passed transversely through the parts in a manner to permit itslower free end to turn on its pivotal connection rearward.

One arm of the shovel-supporting sleeve extends upon the side of theshovel-standard, and its free end is made in geartooth form to engagethe teeth of a gear-wheel, 37, placed on the side of the standard, and ascrew-bolt passed through the standard and through the' axial center ofthe gear-wheel serves to [ix it in place thereon in gear-toothconnection with the gear-teeth of the sleeve.

Instead of the gearwheel to engage the toothed end of the sleeve, it isevident that a IOO IIS

friction mechanism notchedto receive the tooth-formed end of the sleevemaybe em ployed or a reverse construction of these parts may be employedand still be within the scope of our invention.

The gear-wheel is preferably made with a ange, 38, projecting on itsouter face over its teeth to overlap the gear-toothed end Vof the sleeveto holdit in place. The gear-wheel is made with a nut-formed portion,39, rising from its outer face axial center to receive ay wrench to adjust the wheel.

A shovel, 41, of the usual construction, is fixed to the depending endVportion of the sleeve in the usual manner.

The several parts, consisting of the sleeve 36 in its pivotal connectionwith the stand-v shovel-supporting sleeve, will vary its angle,

and'consequently the angle of the shovel fixed thereto, relatively withthe shovel-standard in the lengthwise direction of the drag-bar, toadjust it to enter the ground at a proper working angle, and when soadjusted the gearwheel, by means of its pivot-screw bolt, is clamped tothe shovel-standard with a force to create friction betweenr the partssufficient to hold the shovel in its adjusted position for the purposesof cultivation; but when subjected to a strain that mightcause injury tothe parts will cause the gear-wheel'to turn on its pivotal center,liberate the sleeve, and permit it to turn on its pivotal supportVandthe shovel ixed thereto to swing back, as shownin dotted lines in Fig.2, `to prevent breaking parts, after which it can be readily returned toits working position and again y tixed for the purposes of cultivation'.

Weclaim as our inventionl. The herein-described .tubular spindle, l

consisting of an axle-arm, support to a carrying-wheel, a featheredsleeve to receive the axle, a recess in the sleeve to receive thescrew-nut, a sand-band, and aperforated earv projecting from its forwardside, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with an axle, of atubular spindle to receive acarrying-wheel,

said spindle havinga feather-connection of its sleeve portion with theaxle to prevent rotary displacement and ya recess to receive ascrew-nut, a screw-nut within the recess in v the'sleeve, and ascrew-bolt in connection with the screw-nut to x.v the spindle in placeagainst longitudinal displacement,V substantially as and for the purposeset forth. y

` 3. The combination, with a spindle detach-` ably secured to an axleand provided with a laterally-extending perforated ear Ifixed rigidlythereto, and the tongue,jof a brace extending frorn the tongue to thesplindleand having a self-locking connection with the ear on'thespindle, whereby the spindle is held firmly in position and readilydetached at pleasure, substantially as set forth. A 4

4. The combination of an axle, a draft-sleeve with bell-crank armsradiating from its inner end, a supporting-spring, and acounterbalance-spring in connection with their respective radialbell-crank arms of they draft-sleeve and with 'adj ustable attachmentsto the axle,l

lsubstantially as and for the purpose set'forth.

5. The combination of a joint-sleeve .with bell-crank arms radiatingfromv its inner end,

an axle-support to the joint-sleeve, ashovelsupporting drag-barhingejointed to'thesleeve,y a supporting-spring'and a counterbalancespringandtheir rod-supports connecting their respective arms of thejoint-sleevewithv the axle, said springs made adjustable in their connectionwith theaxle,'sub'stantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination-of shovel-standard, a bracket-support to the innershovel-standard,'a bolt to fix the shovelstandard and bracket in placeon opposite sides adrag-bar, an outer of the drag-bar, and an innershovel-standard Y and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination, with the shovel-standard, of a shovel-carryingsleeve pivotally'se-Ioof cured to the lower end ofthe standard and'`having a branch extending upwardly along the side of the standard andterminating in a toothed end, a toothed wheel vprovided with aguard-flange, `and apivotal bolt to clamp the toothed wheel to the sideof the shovel-standard in a position to engage the toothed end of thecarrying-sleeve, substantially as and for the purposeset forth. f

JAMES MAOPHAIL.

FRANKLIN MVNEEDHAM. Y

Witnesses: y z

A. O. BEHEL', J con BEHEL.

.fixed to its bracket-support, substantially as-

